Foundry and casting plant



March 31, 1931. D. c. MU-LVIHILL FOUNDRY 'AND CASTING PLANT Filed May 5,1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 31, 1931. D. c. MULVIHILL FdUNDRY ANDCASTING PLANT Filed May 5, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl -IF; WW

March 31, 193-1. c, MULV|H|LL 1,798fi85 FOUNDRY AND CASTING PLANT FiledMay 5, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 31, 1931. D. -c. MULVIHILL FOUNDRYAND CASTING PLANT Filed May 5, 192a 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 31,1931 PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL c. MULVIHILL, or Human, MISSOURI FO'UNDRY 1N D CASTING ElApplicationflled May 5, 1928. Serial No. 275,422.

This invention relates to improvements in moulding or casting plantsthat is des gned to be continuously operated, with a minimum expenditureof labor and energy. 7

Another object of the invention isthe provision of a moulding or castingplant that is provided with new and improved means for performing thevarious steps 1n the casting operation.

A further object of the inventlon 1s the provision of a new and improvedendless conveyor for conveying the moulds or flasks from the mouldingmachines past the different stations in the moulding and castingoperations.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedmoulding or casting plant that is comparatively s mple in construction,easil installed, economical and efficient in operationand that isadmirably adapted for quantity production.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following description taken in connection wlth the accompanyingdrawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in plan of I themoulding plant;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the endless carrier;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section thereoi along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: is a vertical transverse section of the endless carrier andtrack taken through the advancing mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a portion oi: the endless track with thetops or platform of the truck shown in dotted lines; I

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the advancing mechanism showingparts in sec-- Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion oi the advancingmechanism shown more or less diagrammatically and with a portion of theendless carrier shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 8 is-a perspective view of one end of the inclined track member 32;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the skids;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic View of the inclined trucks; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of one end of the inclinedtrack 30.

It is common ractice in casting car wheels and the like to or-m themoulds on the floor of the foundry beneath traveling cranes that areadapted to convey the molten metal from the cupola to the flasks andremove the cast wheels from the flask and convey themto the coolingpits. This is 'a slow and laborious method and requires considerablefloor space.

.The present invention provides means for simplifying the work andreducing the labor and'expense of the operation as well as economizingfloor space.

It has been proposed to employ an endless carrier forconveying themoulds from the moulding machine past the station where the moltenmetalis poured into the moulds and when the cast article is removed toremove the copes, chills and drags, and return them on another conveyorto the moulding machines. This arrangement is objectionable because itis necessary to employ additional conveyors for returning these parts.The present invention contemplates utilizing the main endless carrierfor returning the drags to the mould thus eliminating the necessity ofcarriers for returning the drags, thereby effecting considerable savingin floor space Which is quite an item in moulding plants;

In Fig. 1 is shown more or less diagrammatically a moulding plantequipment according to the present invention. This equipment comprisesan endless carrier 10 operatingon tracks 4 and 5 arranged preferablysomewhat in the'form of an ellipse with parallel sides 6 and 7 andcurved ends 8 and 9. The carrier 10 is made up of a plurality of trucksllfor conveying the moulding flasks and portions of the same past thedifferent stations as will presently appear. A cupola 12 mixing ladle13, pouring ladles 14,1nounted on the ladle truck 15, movable along thetracks 16 are located adjacent to one side of the track and constitutewhat may be for removing the cast article and for manipulating the partsof the flask are mounted at one end of the elliptical track and may betermed the discharging station.

The drag and cope moulding machines 23, 24 and 25, 26 together withsuitable overhead cranes 27, 28, 29 and 31 are located on the other sideof the elliptical track and may be termed the moulding station. Aplurality of pairs of inclined tracks 32, 33 for conveying the cope andchill ring from the discharge station to a position adjacent to themoulding machines, together with a return track 34 for the skids arelocated within theendless carrier 10 as clearly shown in 1 of thedrawings.

In the casting operation, the carrier 10 is moved intermittently in thedirection indicated by the arrows shown at the left in Fig. 1. Eachtruck 11 carries one moulding flask.

After the trucks have passed the cope moulding machines 25 and 26, andthe copes and chill ring 40 have been placed on the drags 30 they areconveyed by an intermittent movemeut around to the side 7 where themolten metal is poured into the flasks from one of the ladles 14. If thearticle to be cast is of considerable size, as for instance the largerwheels of a railway truck, 'the truck 15 carrying the ladles is moved tothe left end of the track 16 and pours into the flask from that positionin order to give the article a longer time to cool before it reaches hestation where it is to be removed. If, on the other hand, the article iscomparatively small, as for instance the smaller wheels of a. railwaycarriage, the truck 15 may be moved toward the right end of the track 16and the metal poured into the flasks from that position. a

When the truck containing the filled flask reaches the curved portion 9of the track, the cope and chill 40 together with the article areremoved by a suitable crane22 and the sand is shaken out through thegrates 20 into the sand pits 17, leaving the article on the grates,after which the cope and chill 40 are placed on inclined tracks 32 and33 by said crane or an overhead carrier 60. In actual practice, thecarrier 60 is not required as the boom of the crane 22 is of sufficientlength. The cast wheel is then conveyed by crane 21 to the overheadcarrier 34 which deposits it in the cooling pits 18.

WVhen the trucks have been advanced to the crane 19, the drag isremoved,the sand shaken out into the pit 17 and the drag replaced on the truckfrom which it was removed. When the trucks containing the drags reachthe drag moulding machines 23 or 24, they are removed for the mouldingop- "eration, after which they are returned to'the same trucks fromwhich they were removed. The copes are stacked four deep on skids 85 ona short horizontal portion 36 of the tracks 32 and 33 at the upper endsthereof. After .moved by overhead cranes 27 and 28 to the mouldingmachines 25 or 26. After the moulding operation, the copes are replacedon the drags and the flask completed, thus completing one cycle of theoperation.

The tracks 32 and 33 for returning the copes and chills to the mouldingmachine 25.

and 26 by gravity may be of any suitable construction. As shown in Fig.8, each track may comprise a pair of angle bars 82 and 83 between whichare rotatably mounted the antifriction rollers 84 on which the skids 85,see Fig. 9, are adapted to ride. As shown more or less diagrammaticallyin Fig. 10, each of the tracks is provided at its upper end with asubstantially horizontal portion 36 on which the skids 85 may restwithout any tendency to slide down the incline. The tracks 32 arearranged in pairs and each tier of copes is supported on two of theskids 85 on a pair of the tracks 32. The skids are returned by gravityon the inclined track 30 having the anti-friction rollers therein. SeeFigs. 10 and 11.

The tracks 30, 32 and 33 are all mounted within the space defined by theendless track 4 and 5, thereby conserving floor space within thefoundry.

Suitable conveyors 41 are provided for transferring the sandfrom the pit17 to the moulding machines 23, 24, 25 and 26. The sand is preferablyproperly treated after each casting operation and may be used over andover again.

The endless carrier comprises a plurality of trucks 11, the constructionof each of which will now be described. Each truck comprises atriangular shaped frame 42 having the side members 43 and 44 convergingforwardly. The members 43 and 44 may be I-beams and are connected attheir front portion by an attaching block 45 held between .the flangesof the side bars 43 and 44 in any suitable manner, as by bolts or rivets400, see Fig. 5.

The block 45 is provided with a Vertical opening for receiving pivot pin46 carried by the rear portion of the front adjacent truck. The frontend of the block 45 is provided with a journal 47 on which may bemounted anti-friction roller 48. The rear ends of the side bars 43 and44 are connected together by a platev 49 having an opening 51 which isadapted to align with the opening in the block 45 for receiving thepivot pin 46 (see Fig. 3). The plate 49 is preferably provided with aseries of openings 52 arranged in the arc of a circle beneath theanti-friction roller 48 for permitting dirt and the like to escape frombeneath the said roller, see Fig. 5. The frame 42 is supported at itsrear end by an axle 53 in advance of the pivot 46 whereby any tendencyof the truck to advance alternately one wheel at a time will beresisted. The axle is provided with flanged wheels 54 for engaging therails of the endless track 5. A platform or supporting plate 55 ismounted on the frame 42 in any suitable manner, as by being bolted tothe side bars 43 and 44, see Fig. 2. A plurality of cleats or stops 56are arranged in a circle on the top surface of the supporting plate 55for positionin the flask when the same is placed onthe truc In order topermit the trucks to pass around the curve, the inner edges at each endof the plate are cut away as at 57 and in order to prevent accidents tothe worlunen or employees-in-charge of the apparatus, suitable means areprovided for shielding the opening .between the trucks. As shown, eachof the plates 55 is provided at each end with upwardly extending flange58, and a shield 59 U-shaped in cross section and widening at its outerends is adapted to be placed over the flanges 58 as clearly shown inFigs. 2 and 3. Preferably the axle is so arranged that the outer wheelwill be slightly in advance of the inner so that there will be notendency for the outer wheel to ride upon the rail.

Suitable means are provided for advancing the endless carrierintermittently. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose. Inthe form of the device disclosed, the endless carrier is advanced thedistance between two adjacent trucks at each forward movement of thepropeller device. This device comprises a truck 61 having flanged wheels62 for engaging between the flanges of a track 63 secured between therails of'the endless track 5, see Figs. 4 and 6. The truck 61'carries aspring pressed arm '64 having its free end in the form of a hook 65 forengaging the axles 53 of the trucks for advancing the same. The outerend of the arm 64 beyond the hook 65 is provided with a downwardly andrearwardly extending projection 66 which is adapted to. guide the hookbeneath the axle during the return movement of the truck. The truck isadapted to be advanced by a suitable steam or compressed air device.

As shown, a cylinder 67 having a piston 68 therein, the piston rod 69 ofwhich is attached to the truck 61, as at 71, is provided, see Fig. 7.Compressed air or steam is led to the cylinder through the pipe 72 fromthe control 73. The control is operated by a lever 74 in the usualmanner. returned by a small piston 75 operating in a cylinder 76. Thepiston rod 77 of the piston 75 is connected to the truck 61 as at 78.Compressed air or steam is supplied to the cylinder 76 from a suitablesource of supply through the control 73. Since the mechanism forcontrolling the supply of steam or i compressed air to the cylinders 67and 76 relative to the adjacent trucks.

The truck is may be of the usual or any well-known con- 'struction, itis not thought necessary to further. illustrate or describe the same.

The

controls for the ladle, the different cranes,

and for the truck advancing mechanism, may,

if desired, be located at a central point whereby a single operator mayoperate the Y same.

The endless carrier 10 is of metal and consequently the total expansionof the same is considerable while the casting plant is in. operation dueto the intense head of themolten metal that is carried by flasks on thetrucks 11. In order to compensate for this that there will be notendency of the flanges V on the outer wheelsto ride upon the rails.

Since each truck is mounted 'on a sin le axle, it is necessary toprovide means limiting the angular movement of'each truck Otherwise onmoving around the curved portion of the For track, the truck wheelswould tend to ride f upon the rails and become derailed.

As shown, a stop lug 79 is mounted on the stop lug 79 on one truck isadopted to engage the side bar 43 on the following truck when thelongitudinal axes of the trucks are in alignment. I

It is thought from the foregoing taken in connectionwith theaccompanying drawings that the construction and operation of my devicewill be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that changes in size,shape, proportion and details of construction may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. A truck for an endless carrier for afoundry, comprising an axle, a wheel on each end .of said axle, a pairof forwardly con-.

of said bars, an antifriction roller on said 1 block, said block havingan opening for pivotally attaching said truck to an immediately 100connecting plate 49 of each truck adjacent to r precedin truck, aplatform mounted on said bars, an stops on said platform.

J 2. In an endless carrier for a foundry plant, an axle, a flanged wheelon each end of said axle, a pair of forwardly converging I- beams, meansfor securing said beams to said axle above the same, an attaching blocksecured between the forward ends of said beams, a vertical 'opening insaid block for receiving a pivot, a platform on said beams, a plateattached to. the lower portion of said beams at the rear end thereof.

3. In a foundry, an endless track, an endless metallic carrier thereonfor conveying molding flasks, said carrier comprising a plurali- 5 ty oftwo-wheeled trucks, the wheels of said trucks being flanged, means forpivotally connecting said trucks together with the flanges of the innerwheels in proximity to the ball of the inner track when said trucks arecold, whereby when they expand by the heat of the cast articles in saidmolds the flanges of the inner wheels will be spaced from said inner forlimiting the turning movement of said trucks in the opposite direction.

5. An endless conveyor for foundry plants comprising a plurality oftwo-wheeled trucks pivotally connected together, means on said trucksfor supporting and-retaining a moulding flask thereon, and meansincluding stops for limiting the angular movement of one truck relativeto the preceding and following trucks. 7

6. An endless conveyor for foundry plants, comprising a plurality oftwo-wheeled trucks, each having forwardly converging frame members, apivot block between the forward ends of said members and provided with apivot pin opening, a plate secured to the underside of said members atthe rear thereof and provided with a pivot pin opening, a stop on saidplate at each side of the median line of said truck for limiting theangular movement of said truck relative to the preceding truck, and asupporting plate on said members.

7. In a system for continuously casting articles, an endless trackcomprising a pair of rails, an endless carrier comprising a plurality ofmetallic trucks having flanged wheels for engaging said rails, the treadof said rails being greater than the tread of said trucks and the lengthof the median line of said end less track being greater than the medianline of said endless carrier when said trucks are cold whereby saidtrucks will remain on said tracks when the length of said endlesscarrier is extended by increase in temperature of the individual trucks.

8. In a foundry, an endless track and endless carrier on said track,said carrier comprising a plurality of two wheeled trucks pivotallyconnected together, the outer wheel of each truck being arrangedslightly in advance of. the inner, a plate on each truck for supportinga mouldingflask, and means on each of said trucks for limiting theangular movement of the following truck.

9. In a system for molding articles comrising an endless track, anendless carrier mtermittently moving upon said track, a

molding station and a discharge station in spaced relation about saidtrack, a second track parallel with said first track, a transport buggyon said track, molten metal carrying and pouring means mounted thereonand forming therewith a movable pouring station,

said carrier and movable pouring station being stationary during thepouring operation,

'the length of said, second track being sufficient to allow the placingof said movable .pouring station at positions demanded by the I varyingmasses of metal to be cast whereby the temperature of the metal onreaching said 4 discharge station may be maintained at a substantiallyconstant value irrespective of the mass of metal poured.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

, DANIEL C. MULVIHILL.

